Educational Travel

How do I enroll my child on a tour?

Simply contact us here and we will begin the enrollment process.

 

What is included in the price?

• Program price.

• $95 non-refundable deposit.

• Round-trip airfare.

• Accommodations in hotels with private bathrooms.

• A Tour Director available 24 hours a day from when you arrive until you depart.

• Breakfast and dinner daily in Europe. For non-European destinations different meal plans may apply.

• Sightseeing tours and excursions led by licensed local guides as specified.

• Airport transfers and transportation between destination cities.

• Transportation to all included activities.

• Entrance fees and theater tickets as specified.

• EF walking tours and Tour Director-led sightseeing as specified.

• Cruises, trains or ferries as specified  

• Weekend supplement ($35 for any flight departing Friday, Saturday or Sunday in either direction if applicable.)

• Support from EF representatives abroad

• 24-hour worldwide emergency service 

 

What is NOT included in the price?

• Optional excursions.

• Insurance coverage.

• Beverages and lunches (except where specified.)

• Transportation to free-time activities.

• Gratuities (for your Tour Director, bus driver and local guides.)

• Porterage.

• Optional excursions.

• Any applicable baggage-handling fees imposed by the airlines (see eftours.com/baggage for complete details) – Expenses caused by airline rescheduling, cancellations or delays caused by the airlines, bad weather or events beyond EF’s control.

• Passport, visa and reciprocity fees.

 

How do I pay for my tour?

EF offers the following options...

Convenient monthly payments deducted from your checking account or charged to your credit or debit card.

24-hour access to your account and payment information through our secure website.

Full tour balance deadline is up to 25 days prior to departure.

 

How many students are in a room & what are the hotels like?

Students will room in triples or quads with others of the same gender from the tour group. EF uses U.S.-style hotels for most tours. These rooms contain two double beds (beds for two people), and two students are expected to share each bed.

 

Can parents enroll on these tours?

We do not allow parents to come along on the tours. We feel this is a special opportunity for students to get out and discover on their own with the guidance of the on tour team.

 

Who is responsible for getting travelers’ passports and visas?

Each traveler must obtain a passport and any applicable visas for his or her tour prior to departure. For certain tours, we will need your passport information 110 days prior to departure. If a traveler is unable to obtain these travel documents, our standard cancellation policy will apply (see first column on p. 155). Please be sure that passports are valid for at least six months after your tour ends. Non-U.S. citizens will need to contact the embassy or consulate of their destination countries to ensure they meet specific entry requirements. Remember to check your itinerary carefully for all countries that you will visit or pass through, including transfers between airports in foreign countries and re-entry into the United States. Visit the U.S. Department of State at travel.state.gov for further information.

 

Which airlines does EF use & what will my flights be like?

EF reserves seats with major airlines, including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, American, British Airways, Delta, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, South African Airways, SAS, Swiss, United, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and other U.S. and international carriers. Our contracts do not allow upgrades, stopovers or the accrual of frequent flier miles. EF Tours will always their best to provide the most direct route to your destination city. However, due to available flight routings, we cannot guarantee non-stop or direct flights. Sometimes, groups may travel on an overnight red-eye flight, departing the evening before the tour is scheduled to begin. In rare cases, groups may have a domestic and/or international overnight, layover and/or bus transfer. Based on seat availability and the size of the plane, EF may not be able to accommodate all members of a group on the same flight, in which case the Group Leader will determine on which flight itinerary each traveler will travel. In such instances that a traveler is not satisfied with their flight assignment, standard cancellation fees apply. We are not able to pre-assign seating. You will receive your seat assignments upon check-in. Depending on your group’s size, you may or may not sit together. 

 

What are the on-tour rules like?

Please contact us here to request a copy of our tour rules.

 

Is the trip open to any high school student? 

YES, students in grades 9-12 are invited to apply. All students must apply to travel with us and must provide letters of reccomendation upon request. We reserve the right to deny enrollment. We also reserve the right to pull a student from the tour prior to departure, or on tour if we see fit. 

 

Is this a HHS sponsored tour?

No. HHS does not sponsor this trip. It is run independently through Education First Tours.

 

Who are the chaperones?

High School Teachers [Tedeschi, Piffard, Bruckbauer, Crugnale], Guidance Counselor [Denise Piffard] and an Assistant Principal [Anne Gambino]. 

 

What is the student/chaperone ratio?

SIX students per chaperone.

 

How many travelers are allowed on each trip?

The total number of travelers for the tours in Europe are 42 students and 7 chaperones and the total number of travelers for the tours in Latin America are 36 students and 6 chaperones. 

 

Do you lead one tour like this each year?

Yes, we always have one tour and sometimes we run two.

 

What is the approximate cost of the trip?

Each trip is different but they typically run from $2500- $3800.

 

Are there payment plans?

Yes. The payment plans differ and are set up once you are enrolled on the tour through EF Tours Customer Service. The purchase of insurance is required on all tours.